Imagineer Influence: Alice Davis

A few weeks ago, I shared the first of a new series highlighting some amazing Imagineers that shaped Disneyland. For this post, I’d like to share the contributions of a lesser-known Imagineer: Alice Davis.

 Source: The Kingdom Insider

Alice Davis, born 1929, never set out to be an Imagineer. As a student as the Chouinard Art Institute, she originally wanted to study animation. But due to a two-year waitlist, she instead enrolled in the costume design program (while taking the occasional animation class when she could). While studying at the Institute, Alice met animator Marc Davis, who would become her husband – and her path into the world of Disney.

Walt didn’t know that I’d worked for him before Marc and I were married. My first job was when Marc was doing Sleeping Beauty. He was doing Aurora dancing in the forest with the prince. For live-action reference, he wanted the skirt to take a shape and turn, and Marc knew that I knew what he was talking about because I’d been in his animation class. So I designed it.

Alice and Marc grew closer when collaborating on Sleeping Beauty, and married in 1956. Walt ran into the newlyweds at a Los Angeles restaurant, and suddenly Disney had a new costume designer.

We were having a cocktail and this hand came on Marc’s shoulder. I looked up and just about swallowed my glass. It was Walt Disney. He said, “Marc, is this your new wife?” Marc said “Yes,” and Walt pulled up a chair. He joined us for a cocktail and asked what I did professionally. He was very curious. When he heard me say “elastic,” he wanted to know all about elastic fabric. He stayed for at least a half hour, asking me all kinds of questions. Marc was sitting there wondering what was up his sleeve. Eventually, he said, “Well, I’d better get going.” He started to walk away, then turned and said, “You know, you’re going to work for me someday.” He said goodbye and left, and I remember thinking, “Oh, sure, sure.” Years later, I got a call from Walt’s secretary who said, “Alice, Walt wants to know if you’d like to do the costumes for small world.” And I said, “Would I!” She said, “Be here at 9:00 tomorrow morning.”

 Source: Walt Disney Family Museum

Alice actually began her official Disney career with some costume design for television programs, but a few years later, the fated phone call from Walt’s secretary gave Alice her intro to the parks. She worked closely with Mary Blair on the costume designs for It’s A Small World, and the two became close friends. Alice’s talents were quickly used on additional parks projects, and before long, she was designing processes and systems still used in the parks today.

Costume Design

• Flight to the Moon
• General Electric Carousel of Progress
• It’s A Small World
• Pirates of the Caribbean

Behind-The-Scenes

• Designed an animatronic costume manufacturing area at WED enterprises
• Implemented a quality control system and refurbishing techniques for animatronic costumes that are still used today across the parks worldwide

It was the best job I ever had because there were no class distinctions. Everybody had a job to do. None of us had titles. We all went by first names. And we all worked for the same thing: putting on the best show possible.

Alice retired from Disney in 1978, but continued consulting on a number of projects. She finally earned her window on Main Street in 2012; you can find it next to her husband Marc’s window, between the China Shop and the Main Street Cinema.

Though Alice may not have been as prolific with attractions as other Imagineers, the scale of her projects was astounding. For Pirates alone, she designed 47 different costumes. And for It’s A Small World, she researched and designed more than 150 costumes representing cultures around the globe. Her work remains some of the most iconic costumes found in the parks, and has been replicated for attractions in each of the different parks worldwide.

 Source: Disney Parks Blog